Dallas Turner feels former Alabama LB coach Austin Armstrong will do ‘very good job’ as Gators DC
NASHVILLE — Austin Armstrong served as the linebackers coach at Alabama for only a short time, but he made a strong impression on the Crimson Tide’s Dallas Turner. Armstrong was reportedly hired by Nick Saban on Jan. 13, although an official announcement didn’t come until one month later.
In the few weeks that Turned spent around the rising coaching star, Armstrong left a lasting impression on him.
“Very good person, very good person on and off the field. Just a good guy to be around,” Turner told Gators Online at SEC Media Days. “We didn’t spend too much time together, but I did get to see how he views things on the field.
“He’s a very young coach so you can be open with him. He’s also going to have a lot of energy and expect a lot of you.”
Armstrong’s stint in Tuscaloosa did not last long after Florida came calling. On Feb. 22, On3’s Matt Zenitz first reported that Armstrong was leaving Alabama to become the defensive coordinator at UF.
Armstrong turns 30 on Thursday and will be the youngest DC in the Power 5 next season. He replaces Patrick Toney, who left to become the defensive backs coach for the Arizona Cardinals.
RELATED: Austin Armstrong left his ‘hero’ Nick Saban to take DC job at Florida
Armstrong, who spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Southern Miss, drew rave reviews during spring ball. Turner thanks he’ll have success calling plays for the Gators.
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“I feel like he’ll do a very good job,” Turner said of Armstrong. “Florida has a lot of good defensive talent on the front line and in the back end as well. I feel like he’ll fit in well and be the type of defensive coordinator they need.”
Billy Napier on Austin Armstrong
Florida coach Billy Napier discussed the hiring of Armstrong with Gators Online during his first interview at SEC Media Days on Wednesday.
Armstrong had two stints at Louisiana (2017-18, 2020) under Napier and a year with Kirby Smart at Georgia in 2019 as a defensive quality control coach.
“Austin has worked with me two different times before,” Napier said. “He’s been in this blueprint at Georgia for a year. So, you know, he is a little more prepared. We’ve worked together and collaborated together, installation scripting, practice planning. So that (transition) has been seamless.”
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